The joint Committee for relations with Muslims in Europe of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE) met in Leicester, in England, from 3 to 6 May. News of the meeting is given in a CCEE press release, which reports that “the committee met with two Muslim groups engaged in interfaith dialogue: seven men and three women from the Muslim community in Leicester and the staff of the Islamic Foundation in Markfield, Leicestershire. Discussions centred around the issues of being Muslim within Europe and the training of Imams and Christian clergy”. “The committee – continues the press release – underlined the necessity of giving more attention to Muslim minorities in the countries of Eastern Europe. These minorities are not migrant populations as in Western Europe, but have their proper traditions and embodiment in their respective societies”. In this regard “the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3) in Sibiu, Romania (4-9 September) will be an important occasion to look for dialogue opportunities with religious minorities in Eastern Europe and to bring their centuries-old experiences into the limelight”. During the meeting concerns were expressed about the situation of Christians in Turkey, and the need was underlined to encourage the training of Imams, “with a view to the integration of Muslims in their respective countries”. The meeting ended with a reception held by the Anglican Bishop of Leicester, Tim Stevens.
